[06/17/08 - 12:21 PM]NBC Results for the Primetime Week of June 9-15 NBC spins the numbers for the week of June 9-15.

[via press release from NBC]

NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF JUNE 9-15

NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF JUNE 9-15

ON WEDNESDAY, 'CELEBRITY CIRCUS' DEBUTS AS THE #2 SHOW OF THE NIGHT ON ANY NETWORK IN ADULTS 18-49, AND WINS THE FINAL HOUR OF PRIME IN ADULTS 18-49, 18-34 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

ON SUNDAY, NBC SPORTS PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF U.S. OPEN GOLF WINS ITS TIME PERIOD IN ALL KEY RATINGS CATEGORIES -- ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-34, 18-49 AND 25-54, PLUS TOTAL VIEWERS

ON MONDAY, THE NBC DEBUT OF 'NASHVILLE STAR' SETS A NEW SERIES RECORD IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES, TOPPING EVERY PREVIOUS TELECAST ON USA

ALSO ON MONDAY, 'AMERICAN GLADIATORS' SCORES ITS HIGHEST 18-49 RATING AND BIGGEST TOTAL VIEWERSHIP OF THE SHOW'S CURRENT CYCLE

BURBANK, Calif. � June 17, 2008 � NBC averaged a 2.0 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 6.8 million viewers overall for the week of June 9-15, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Through 38 weeks of the 2007-08 season, Fox leads in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, while the race for #2 remains tight. Season-to-date averages in adults 18-49 for the period September 24, 2007 through June 15, 2008 are Fox (4.1/11), ABC (3.0/8), CBS (2.9/8), NBC (2.7/7), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1).

NBC is the only major network that has not seen its audience get significantly older this season versus last and it is now the "second-youngest" of the major broadcast networks. Through the first 38 weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC is nearly matching its median age from the prior season (48.5 years this season vs. 48.3 years last season). In this same comparison, ABC's median age has increased by 2.0 years (to 49.1 from 47.1), CBS's median age has increased to 53.0 years old from 52.2 and Fox's median age has increased by 1.4 years to 43.9 from 42.5 years old at this point last season.

* On Monday, the NBC season debut of "Nashville Star" set new series records in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures versus its performance over five seasons on USA, more than doubling the 18-49 rating and total viewer tally of the show's previous high for a season debut

* In its second hour from 10-11 p.m., "Nashville Star" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 (tied) and won the hour outright in adults, men and women 18-34 and all key adult-male demos. In head-to-head competition from 10-11 p.m., "Nashville Star" buried "The Mole," topping ABC's rival unscripted series in every key ratings measure -- adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.

* Also on Monday, "American Gladiators" scored its highest 18-49 rating and biggest total viewership of the show's current cycle.

* On Wednesday, the 90-minute debut of "Celebrity Circus" was the #2 program of the night in the key demographic of adults 18-49, behind only Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." "Circus" won the 10-11 p.m. hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and key adult-male demographics.

* Also on Wednesday, a 90-minute "Deal or No Deal" scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating and biggest total viewership in its slot since April 23 (excluding sports telecasts).

* On Saturday, NBC Sports' primetime coverage of U.S. Open Championship golf generated NBC's highest 18-49 and total viewer results in this time period since the NFL Wild Card Playoff game on January 5. NBC ranked #1 on Saturday night in adults 18-49 (tied), adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-male demos.

* On Sunday, NBC Sports' primetime coverage of the U.S. Open averaged a 4.6/17 in adults 18-49 and 16.4 million viewers overall, ranking #1 in its time period in all key ratings categories - - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.

* Sunday's primetime U.S. Open coverage was up 31 percent in 18-49 and 21 percent in total viewers versus last year's Sunday primetime coverage, pacing NBC to its highest-rated Sunday in adults 18-49 since February 17 and top Sunday in total viewers since January 6.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Additional NBC highlights for the week of June 9-15:

On Monday, June 9 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "American Gladiators" (2.0 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership of the show's current cycle. This marks the third consecutive week of growth for "American Gladiators" -- in adults 18-49, the June 9 telecast increased by 11 percent versus the prior week's edition (a 1.8 for a 90-minute telecast on May 26 from 8-9:30 p.m.) and by 18 percent versus the week before that (a 1.7 for a 90-minute edition on May 19). Versus the comparable 8-9 p.m. hour, the June 9 "American Gladiators" was up 18 percent versus the prior week (a 1.7) and up 33 percent versus the week before (a 1.5). In total viewers, the growth was 14 percent versus the May 26 edition (5.6 million vs. 4.9 million from 8-9 p.m.) and 51 percent versus the May 19 telecast (5.6 million vs. 3.7 million).

"American Gladiators" finished within 0.2 of a rating point of the time period lead in adults 18-49 and won the competitive hour among men 18-49 and men 18-34.

Monday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the NBC debut of "Nashville Star" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) set new series ratings records in all key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers versus its performance in five seasons on USA Network from 2003-2007. The previous high for a "Nashville Star" season premiere had been a 1.0 national rating in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall for the Season 2 debut on March 6, 2004. Monday's season debut on NBC generated a 120 percent increase in adults 18-49 and a 157 percent surge in total viewers versus that previous season-premiere high. The show's previous top results ever were for the Season 3 finale on April 26, 2005, which posted a 1.4 national 18-49 rating and 3.4 million viewers overall.

In its season debut on NBC, "Nashville Star" nearly tripled the 18-49 rating the series averaged in its most recent season on USA (2.2 vs. a national 0.8 rating in 18-49, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on USA during the first quarter of 2007)

"Nashville Star" also improved on NBC's 18-49 average in this time period last summer by 10 percent (2.2 vs. 2.0), and in total viewers delivered NBC's largest viewership in this time period outside the traditional television season since August 6, 2007.

From its first to its second hour, "Nashville Star" increased by 10 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.3 from a 2.1). In its final hour from 10-11 p.m., "Nashville Star" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 (tied with CBS's "CSI: Miami encore) and won the hour outright in adults, men and women 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54. In the 10 p.m. hour, "Nashville Star" topped week two of ABC's unscripted "The Mole" in head-to-head competition in all key ratings categories -- adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as in total viewers.

On Tuesday, June 10 at 8 p.m. ET, "Most Outrageous Moments" (1.8/6 in adults 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall with an original at 8 p.m., and 1.8/6 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall with an encore at 8:30 p.m.) matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this hour in eight weeks, since "The Biggest Loser" finale on April 15. Versus the prior week, 'Most Outrageous Moments" increased by 13 percent in adult 18-49 rating in the hour (1.8 vs. 1.6).

At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) was up 38 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week's encore telecast in this time period (1.8 vs. 1.3).

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key measures opposite the NBA Finals on ABC. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" increased by 18 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.0/6 from a 1.7/5).

On Wednesday, June 11 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.2/5 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating and largest total viewership in this time period since April 23, excluding sports. "Deal" ranked #1 in the 90-minute time period in total viewers and #2 in adults 18-49.

From 9:30-11 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Celebrity Circus" (2.3/5 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) was the #2 program of the night in adults 18-49, behind only Fox's two-hour "So You Think You Can Dance." "Celebrity Circus" won the 10-11 p.m. hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demographics.

On Thursday, June 12, from 8:30-10 p.m., ET "Last Comic Standing" averaged a 1.7/5 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its third, "Last Comic" grew by 36 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/6 from a 1.4/5) and increased its overall viewership by 39 percent or more than 1.3 million persons (to 4.7 million from 3.4 million), generating these gains despite increased competition in the 9 p.m. hour from ABC's coverage of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals. From 8-8:30 p.m., an encore telecast of "My Name is Earl" delivered a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall.

Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, "Fear Itself" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall. This was up 7 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's regular-program average last summer in this time period (with first-run episodes of "Studio 60" and encores of "ER").

In total viewers, "Fear Itself" improved on NBC's regular-program average in this slot last summer by 38 percent or 1.4 million persons (4.9 million vs. 3.5 million). In total viewers, "Fear Itself" topped every NBC result in this slot last summer (excluding sports telecasts).

On Friday, June 13 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.0/4 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall. From 8:30-9 p.m., a second encore of "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.1/5 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall.

Friday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 4.2 million viewers overall. "Dateline" ranked #1 in the time period in women 18-49 (tied) and women 18-34, and ranked #2 or tied for #2 among adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET, the NBC News Special "Remembering Tim Russert" averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall.

On Saturday, June 15 from 8-10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports primetime coverage of U.S. Open Championship golf averaged a 1.8/7 in 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall, NBC's highest 18-49 and total viewer results in this time period since the Jaguars-Steelers NFL Wild Card Playoff game on January 5. From 10:30-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "My Name is Earl" delivered a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, June 16, NBC Sports' primetime coverage of U.S. Open Championship golf averaged a 4.6/17 in adults 18-49 and 16.4 million viewers overall from 7-9:04 p.m. ET. Golf coverage ranked #1 in its time period in all key ratings categories � adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.

Year-to-year, NBC's Sunday primetime coverage of the U.S. Open was up 31 percent in adults 18-49 (4.6 vs. 3.5 for a 7-7:46 p.m. overrun on June 17, 2007) and up 21 percent in total viewers (16.4 million vs. 13.6 million).

Sunday from 9:04-11 p.m. ET, the special "Saturday Night Live: The Best of Mike Myers" (2.0/5 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) was the time period's #1 non-sports telecast among adults, men and women 25-54 versus ABC's coverage of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals.

This marks NBC's highest-rated Sunday in adults 18-49 since February 17 and top Sunday in total viewers since January 6.